In this brief yahrzeit l'chaim, Rav Dovid explains how conflicting midrashim on the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea provides insights into our relationship with this World, the Next World, and Justice.

If Hashem hardens Pharoah's heart so that he doesn't let the Jewish people go, how is it fair that Hashem then punishes Pharoah for not letting the Jewish people go? If Pharoah has no free will, how is he responsible?

Join Rav Dovid for a "Lunch and Learn" discussion of the Torah view of Marriage and Love. Rav Dovid gives a Torah perspective on relationships, including reflections on his own marriage, in this seminar discussion designed to bring the Torah view down to a practical level that we can all apply either in marriage or in preparation for marriage. The divorce rate in the U.S. is over 50%, but in the Torah world it is 6%. Just what is the secret of a successful marriage?

Join Rav Dovid for a corporate "Lunch and Learn" discussion on relating to the High Holidays in our modern times. What makes the Yomim Noraim relevant for us today? Is this just a bunch of "New Year's Resolutions" that, like all other such resolutions, will be forgotten within days of Yom Kippur? How should we relate to Rosh HaShanah, and why do these Holidays occur back-to-back on the calendar?

Deuteronomy 13 imposes a death penalty on anyone who prophecies falsely. But just who is a false prophet, and how can we tell the difference between true and false prophecy? How do we know if a prophet truly speaks in Hashem's name? Understanding prophecy will provide us with a firmer grounding in our certainty of the veracity of Torah.

Join Rav Dovid for a "Corporate Lunch and Learn" discussion on understanding our focus, goals, and priorities in life. (This discussion was held over lunch in a corporate cafeteria; we apologize for the background noise, but the discussion is clearly discernable above the din.)

As part of Moshe's departing words, he explains to us the blessings and curses of Hashem. The blessings are guaranteed to come, since Moshe knows that we will follow in Hashem's ways. As for the curses? They are completely avoidable. It's up to us to choose. A Yahrzeit L'Chaim for one who has chosen well.

Sefer Devarim is clearly different from the rest of Torah. The "Bible Critics" say it is different because it was written by a different author. Are they right? Also: learning "tochacha" from Moshe Rabbeinu.

Parshat Matot contains disparate storeis and mitzvot that are tied together by a common theme: the power of speech. Join Rav Dovid in an exploration of the wondrous power of speech to both create and destroy worlds.

Emor is full of seemingly disconnected elements: the obligations of the cohanim (priests) including the Cohen Gadol (high priest); a tour of the Jewish Holidays that includes shabbos, and the story of a man who cursed G-d and his subsequent punishment. What are these disjointed elements doing in one parsha together?

"Tumah" and "Taharah" are two of the most misunderstood concepts in Judaism. Yet they are critical concepts for understanding the spiritual reality of the world in which we live. Rav Dovid explains what they are about, why they exist, and presents them in terms that we can not only understand but apply to our everyday lives.

Why all the details about building a temporary structure that we will never build again? Wouldn't a picture or architectural diagram have done the job more efficiently? Why does all of this come following parshat Mishpatim? And what can we learn about ourselves from all of this?

From Man's viewpoint, the world consists of three distinct time periods: past, present, and future. Hashem's view of the world is entirely different, consisting of one moment -- now -- which encompasses all of eternity's past and future. How is this manifest in our understanding of our relationship with Hashem?

A look at the plagues as brought in parshat VaEira... How did Moshe cause the plagues to happen, and how did the Egyptians do the same? Do Jews believe in miracles? Are we convinced by them? What are the rules that govern spiritual forces, and can they be harnessed and controlled?

We all know the story of Moshe at the burning bush. But what really happened there? What made Moshe special that Hashem spoke to him? Why did his staff turn into a snake? Why was Moshe scared of the snake? Where did his staff come from and what were its special properties?

In the first aliyah of VaYechi, Yosef visits his sick father Yaakov on his deathbed. Just what is the mitzvah of bikkur cholim, and how does one fulfill it properly? What are the spiritual roots involved in the kindness of visiting a sick person? An understanding of bikkur cholim helps us to better understand ourselves and our role in Hashem's world.

Hashem runs the world mida k'neged mida -- "measure for measure". Understanding this concept helps us gain insight into Divine Justice and how to do proper teshuva. This class further explores the concept of mida k'neged mida as manifest throughout the narration of Joseph and his brothers.

VaYeishev: Teshuva, Measure for Measure: A Look at Joseph and his Brothers(56:35)

Hashem runs the world mida k'neged mida -- "measure for measure". Understanding this concept helps us gain insight into Divine Justice and how to do proper teshuva. This class explores the concept of mida k'neged mida as manifest throughout the narration of Joseph and his brothers.

"Yitzhak loved Eisav for his hunting in his mouth, but Rivka loved Ya'akov." (Gen. 25:28) In this one pasuk, the Torah reveals deep wisdom regarding the true meaning of love. What is the Torah view of love, and how can it help us in our lives?

Chayei Sarah: Finding Your Basheret: Yitzhak and Rivkah, a Match Made in Heaven(1:02:39)

Yitzhak found his spouse via the antithesis of today's romance-centered search for self-fulfillment and love. Rivkeh readily agreed to the match; against the adice of her family, she left her father's home with a servant she had just met on a long journey to marry a man she had neer seen. This Match Made in Heaven established the future of the Jewish people for all time and lays out the foundations of the Torah's way in love and marriage.

Ever wonder what the Torah has to say about the Big Bang? Unfortunately, "Western" culture paints Judaism with the same brush as fundamentalist Christianity and assumes that Jews take the Genesis account literally. Well, we do take it literally... literal according to the Torah tradition, which isn't what you might think.

Understanding pleasure, leisure, and decadence; the true meaning of "freedom." How to overcome the yetzer hara and discipline ourselves for the purpose of maximizing our pleasure and enjoyment in life.

In Rav Dovid's maleva malka drasha, he discusses his trip to Israel during the Hizbulla War. His religious response to the war and the reasons for it are lessons in bitachon that will leave you wondering... what do you personally need to do to help the Jewish people in these difficult times?

Know Your Right from Your Left: Asymmetry in the Physical and Spiritual World(55:36)

Join Rav Dovid on a wild ride through Oral and Written Torah, modern physics and cosmology, logic, and sheer fun — all in an attempt to make sense out of the most basic elements of knowledge: discerning left from right.

What do Jews think of non-Jews? What is the spiritual path of a non-Jew? Do non-Jews go to heaven? There are more than a few surprises in Rav Dovid's brief introduction to the spiritual differences between Jews and non-Jews.

Rav Dovid tells the story of Rabbi Akiva and the Ten Martyrs, rabbinic leaders killed by the Romans during the Hadrianic persecution. This emotional story lays the ground for deep theological concepts concerning Torah, martyrdom, and justice.

Rav Dovid leads a discussion of the Rambam's Thirteen Principles of Faith. What are the Thirteen Principles of Faith? How did the Rambam derive them? Are they universally accepted? What does a Jew think about G-d, Torah, Ressurection, Moshiach (Messiah)?

By way of a true story from his own experience, Rav Dovid explains the basics of emunah and bitachon. If we pay attention in our daily lives, we will see Hashem's hand in His personal supervision of our lives. Coincidence? There is no such thing for a Torah Jew.

What does it mean to seek "spirituality" in our lives? What does religion have to do with spirituality? What role does ritual play? In this lecture Rav Dovid explores the Torah's path for spiritual growth and mystical understanding.

Why do bad things happen to good people? It is a question that has perplexed humanity since the time of Job if not earlier. Rav Dovid hosted a series of "Lunch and Learn" discussions on the topic which are available here.

Why do bad things happen to good people? It is a question that has perplexed humanity since the time of Job if not earlier. Rav Dovid hosted a series of "Lunch and Learn" discussions on the topic which are available here.